ANTONIO CONTE held talks with Chelsea representatives in London last week as the search for a new manager at Stamford Bridge hots up.

Italy coach Conte is out of contract at the end of the European Championships and has yet to be offered a new deal.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made Conte one of his chief targets to succeed interim manager Guus Hiddink along with fellow Italian Massimiliano Allegri, now in charge at Juventus, and Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone.

Other contenders are Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini and Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli.

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Conte has said he wants to manage in the Premier League and has been taking English lessons, and last week met Chelsea agents for the second time to talk about the possibility of moving to Stamford Bridge once the Euros are finished - he was also in London before Christmas.

The 46-year-old is not due to discuss his future with the Italian FA until February, but has already stated he wants to return to club football and unless he steers Italy to victory in the summer, they are not expected to stand in his way.

Hiddink revealed on Friday that his big January signing, Brazil striker Alexandre Pato, could be as much as a month away from match fitness.

Pato, signed on loan to the end of the season from Corinthians, has not played since November, and Hiddinck, whose side face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, admitted the 26-year-old is having to undergo a full pre-season fitness programme.

Hiddink said: "We have made a training plan which Pato is doing sometimes twice a day now. He is getting his fitness but not full fitness yet.

"He will not be in for the upcoming few games. We don't want to risk injury. He played his last game on November 28 and then he had a holiday.

"He can still make an impact for us, but it is good to have him on loan and the club has not offered him a longer deal."

Hiddink also admitted it could be hard to hold on to stars like Diego Costa and Eden Hazard if Chelsea are not in the Champions League next year.

"If you don't get in the Champions League one year but you show you are very keen to get back, that might be important," he added. "Everything is to do with the ambition of the club."